Our life living off the land in our log cabin, breathing fresh mountain air, and getting back to basics.

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Like Fireflies

Here I am, home sweet home in my little slice of Heaven on earth. My first vacation since I started working.

It's so peaceful but not necessarily quiet...what do I see and hear? Bird song surrounding the cabin...rich green leaves fluttering in the breeze, brushing against each other and periodically a rusty redish orange one floats to the ground with an ever so slight thump...hummingbirds racing past my head, sometimes close enough to cause me to duck as I feel the breeze of their wings...my chimes gently ringing tones of joy that resonate a calm within me...the creek gurgling over rocks in its way and splashing down the cascades...as night falls, the chirping cicadas resound through the woods, almost overpowering the creeks gentle lullaby. Then there's the rain - it starts with the drops dripping through the leaves, morphing into a sound similar to a tap dancers soft shoe slide, building into a multitude of snare drums being brushed and if the weather is right,becomes a syncopated symphony on the tin roof. And much to my surprise, the fireflies are still twinkling, little flashes in the night that I didn't expect to see this time of year. I've missed this place.

I'm happy to say though, that I also love my beach place and my work with Allegany Franciscan Ministries. It certainly has kept me busy, as have a few other things (I'll share just a few). I was greeted by Liam (I went to share his sixth birthday weekend) with a huge lingering hug and an impassioned "I've missed you Mémère!", (brought tears to my eyes). Here he's sporting his two dangling-by-a-thread front teeth that he eventually lost, one by one.

I had a business meeting in TN, and Johny and I met and stayed at a B&B the weekend prior. The most relaxing part being watching the cows across the French Broad River graze in the rain.

and waking to gorgeous foggy sunrises. It was a perfect venue for a very uplifting, informative and fun week.

Then back to FL where I watch lizards battle, birds appreciating the bayou behind my little beach place, sit by my little Gulf beach listening to the small waves splash on the sand, and keep my brain stimulated with the operations of the office.

My time here at the cabin has been refreshing, where I've shared my birthday with Johny, taken lots of pictures, and enjoyed swinging in the swing, just being.

Beyond all that, you may be wondering where I've been. Truth is, even
though I have lots of awesome things that are happening in my life, the
essence of Lise's Log Cabin Life comes from the cabin, and what happens
to me when I'm here. Not only on the outside, but the inside (of me). My writing self is inspired here at the cabin and I want to share this wonderful place with you (and where, of course, I have lots of time to write for pleasure). My working self is inspired in FL, and I'm not sure how much of my everyday life is going to be of great interest to you (where, of course, I don't have lots of time to write for pleasure).
The fact is, there are some things I believe will spark your interest,
and I will post those as life happens...I'm thinking of it somewhat like
the fireflies, sparkling a bright light now and then, long enough to be
enjoyed, brief enough to not be boring yet make you want more, and
intermittent enough that when you see it again, the thrill is there. I'm
hoping you find the comparison to be true. At this moment, being in the
space I consider my muse, I'm sharing :)

Glad you got to spend some vacation time up at the cabin. It must feel different from when you lived there full time. I know after I've been away from my cabin home, returning brings out such warm, nurturing feelings. We spent most of our summer up the lake, except for brief trips to the States for "business" and a one week vacation to Newfoundland and Labrador. That was great! We took our camping gear in our airline suitcases (cost $21 each for an extra bag), but the result was so much for interesting than staying in hotels and motels. In fact, some of the places we went didn't have places to stay except for camping. I'm glad your beach life and job are working out so well. Keep in touch. - Margy

About Me

There are moments in life when you are reminded of how precious every moment is, and how important it is to love what you live. A favorite quote by Mark Twain “twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones that you did” was posted in my office. Following several undesirable events occurring in my life recently, most significantly my younger brother passing away unexpectedly, I knew it was time to “sail away from the safe harbor” (more of the same quote).
So my retired husband (best friend/confidant/Mountain Man) and I decided we wanted to go to the place we loved most, our log cabin in the Smoky Mountains, and “live off the land”. Time to…Simplify…Explore…Appreciate…Discover…Learn… Grow…
So I resigned from my job and here we are. I am recording the adventure in this blog. I hope you enjoy the experience as much as I know I will.